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NAMA to calibrate navaids in seven airports
*Ethiopian, first to land in Abuja, as aerodrome opens tomorrow
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) will tomorrow begin the calibration of the navigational aids at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja in readiness for resumption of flight operations on Tuesday, according to its Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu.
The resumption of flights tomorrow would come ahead of Wednesday’s deadline originally planned for the opening of the facility.
This is coming as Ethiopian Airways flight would be the first airline to land on the rehabilitated N5.5billion runway. The airline’s aircraft is slated to arrive at 11am on Tuesday.
Only Ethiopian Airways agreed to operate to Kaduna airport when government relocated flights from Abuja. Other carriers declined to do so. Ethiopian operated to Kaduna airport with its brand new B787, otherwise known as Dreamliner. Government plans to receive the carrier amid fanfare for supporting it when other airlines rejected Abuja airport outright.
The Federal Government had shut the Abuja airport runway after several portions of the facility failed with alligator cracks, thereby endangering lives and property.
Activities were in top gear as all the agencies’ heads were seen strategizing as Julius Berger trucks were seen leaving strategic areas of the runway. Airfield lightings shone brightly, indicating that the airport is ready for flight services. Cleaners were seen cleaning offices and repainting some buildings and carrying out comprehensive repairs on the terminal building and other buildings. Runway markings had been completed.
The agency would also carry out flight check on seven other airports across the nation to guarantee effectiveness and accuracy of instrument.
Akinkuotu stated this while conducting Woleshadare.net round some of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the aerodrome.
Calibration is the periodic evaluation of navigational aids used in aviation such as flight and electronic signals, to ensure they are safe and accurate.
Unlike flight tests, which analyse the aerodynamic design and safety of the aircraft itself, flight inspection comprises reviewing flight procedures such as routes, approaches and departures to ensure navigational support is sufficient, there are no obstacles and the procedure is reliable.
Flight inspectors originally tested the accuracy of light beacons sighted while flying. These beacons allowed pilots to fly at night with visual guidance. Radio navigation systems followed, with inspectors testing the radio transmitters while airborne, and then GPS.
Customised aircraft are used for flight inspection, with dedicated receivers and sensors to collect data from the navigational aids being inspected. Computers decode the data and compare to the real aircraft position, with results displayed to the inspector for verification while airborne.
He stated that all the full components of ILS namely Area Navigation (RNAV) 04 Glide path and localiser are operating at optimal level, adding that both main and standby transmitters of all the equipment are serviceable.
RNAV is a method of instrument flight rules (IFR) navigation that allows an aircraft to choose any course within a network of navigation beacons, rather than navigate directly to and from the beacons.
Director, Safety Electronics and Engineering Services (DSEES), NAMA, Farouk Ahmed Umar confirmed the serviceability of the facilities, noting for the whole period that the Abuja airport was shut for maintenance, all the navigational equipment were on.
He added that none was shut down including the total radar coverage for Nigeria (TRACON), adding that the airport is safe and ready for operations.
His words, “We have carried ground calibration (pre-calibration) on all the facilities and the result was satisfactory. This will be followed by flight calibration and all things being equal as from tomorrow, we are going to embark on periodic calibration of seven more airports, Abuja inclusive in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation Standard Operating Practices (SARPS).”
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